New Orleans’ French Quarter
HIGHLIGHTS
French architecture, rich cultural history, music on every corner, museums galore.
THE CITY OF SECOND CHANCES
While staying at the Fairview-Riverside State Park we came to the conclusion that being so close to New Orleans made a day trip to the city a must-see. We took the Lake Pontchartrain bridge into the city; the drive itself a modern wonder. The bridge, standing almost 24 miles long, is the longest continuous bridge in the world. Moving through the city towards Jackson Square, the remnants of Hurricane Katrina are still visible. Boarded-up houses, decaying buildings, and blight still remain long after the city was breached by water, but New Orleans’ spirit is still alive.
Jackson Square is the epicenter of the French Quarter comes alive with musicians busking, artists selling their creations, and performers building up crowds. A painter stands on a stool, working a marionette puppet holding a small paintbrush in hand; life imitating art, imitating life. Truly wonderful. Musicians of every stripe, playing instruments of all varieties fill the streets with the sounds of Jazz. A gentleman attempts to earn a few dollars by guessing the provenance of your shoes. This vibrant and eclectic experience unfolds surrounded by Greek Revival and Creole architecture. Simply walking the city is a history lesson.
We spent half a day walking the tight streets of the French Quarter, visited Louis Armstrong Park, Jackson Square, local museums, and quirky little shops of various kinds. New Orleans is a city with a soul and has a personality all its own.
If you’re in the area, indulge yourself with a day in this wonderful, colorful, lively city and take the time to appreciate its local culture. You’ll never forget it.